Carlisle burglar jailed for threating cancer patient inside his home
- Published
Michael Parker was jailed for two years and three months
A burglar who threatened a man recovering from cancer treatment with a bottle has been jailed.
Michael Sirey Parker entered two flats in Carlisle confronting both occupants, the city's crown court heard.
One victim, who was recovering from cancer, said Parker had "violated" his space and brandished a bottle of wine "like a cosh".
Parker, 36, of Stonegarth, was jailed for two years and three months after admitting two counts of burglary.
The court heard he had entered the flats in Nelson Street on 26 July.
In the first on the ground floor he came face-to-face with a woman and grabbed her right arm, gripping it hard as she asked him to leave.
"I'm petrified he will come back. I don't feel safe in my own home," she later told police.
He then went upstairs and entered the flat of the man recovering from cancer treatment.
"The worst thing was having him inside my home, armed with a glass bottle," the man said.
"He violated my space. He was willing to assault me," the man added.
Victim photographed him
The court heard a few weeks earlier Parker had tried to enter a ground floor flat at Higginson Mill while the householder was inside.
As she went to investigate, Parker picked up a plank of wood and threatened to stab her while hinting that he had a knife.
Parker then left the area after a further confrontation with a dog walker who tried to intervene, but was seen by the woman a short time later as she travelled past him in a car.
"She took a photograph of him and called the police," prosecutor Rachael Woods told the court.
Parker admitted affray, two counts of burglary with intent to steal, attempted burglary, two offences of assault by beating and vehicle interference having tried the handle of a parked car.
In mitigation, Andrew Gurney told the court Parker felt shame and remorse and wished to apologise to his victims for crimes committed while he was desperate for money.
Judge Michael Fanning imposed an immediate 27-month jail term.
"People have to be safe in their own homes," he said, adding: "People who burgle need to know they will go to prison with immediate effect."
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